Increment by Three
From IFWiki
- Note: The name of this article should really be +=3, but wiki software limits what characters are usable in article names. The "+=" part means "increment by" in some programming languages like C.
 Adventure  One-room |
| +=3: A Controversial but Nevertheless Logical Adventure | |
|---|---|
| Author(s) | Carl de Marcken and David Baggett |
| Publisher(s) | n/a |
| Release date(s) | 1994 |
| Authoring system | TADS 2 (with WorldClass 1.3.1) |
| Platform(s) | TADS 2 |
| Language(s) | English |
| License(s) | Freeware |
| Multimedia | |
| Color effects | none |
| Graphics | none |
| Sound/Music | none |
| Ratings | |
| Cruelty scale | Tough |
How It Begins
You're almost there -- 99 points out of 100 and what looks to be a run-of-the-mill troll on the bridge puzzle. Should be trivial for an adventure game god like you. And besides, any puzzle with a logical solution can't be *too* hard to solve. All you have to do is get past the troll, and you will have won.
Notable Features
- There is only a single puzzle, which is (depending on your point of view) either unfair, a comment on interactive fiction conventions, or both.
- The authors write, in the game: This game is not impossible, but it is very difficult. In fact, the authors suspect that few (if any) will be able to solve it the direct way; i.e., by using the clues in the game and common sense to figure out how to solve the puzzles.
- According to Carl Muckenhoupt: Written as an example of how not to write games. Specifically, the thesis it seeks to prove is that it is possible for a puzzle to have a completely logical solution, and yet be nearly impossible to solve except by randomly guessing commands. This was the centerpiece of a heated debate on rec.arts.int-fiction. Not meant to be played and enjoyed.
Versions
Version 1.2
- +=3: A Controversial but Nevertheless Logical Adventure (co-designer: Carl de Marcken, co-designer and coder: David Baggett; 1994; TADS 2).
- IFID: TADS2-6ACBC6C7D9E402E84E26F5E54C9EA767
IFID links: IFDB - Note: uses WorldClass library version 1.3.1
- Game: Download 3.gam from the IF Archive
- Source code: Download 3.t from the IF Archive
- IFID: TADS2-6ACBC6C7D9E402E84E26F5E54C9EA767
Links
General Info
- +=3 (archived) - at Baf's Guide.
- +=3 - at IFDB.
- +=3: A Controversial but Nevertheless Logical Adventure at MobyGames
Reviews
Spoilers
- Walthrough: Download 3.step from the IF Archive